Rail joint



W. T. MASTERS RAIL JOINT Nov. 15, 1927. 1,649,316

Filed Au 1926 INVENTOR.

BY ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 15, 1927.

UNITED STATES inane PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM '1. MASTERS, OF KHEDIVE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOSMITH A. HOGE, OF RICES LANDING, IPENNSYLVANIA.

v RAIL JOINT.

Application filed August 19, 1926. Serial No. 130,182.

My invention relates to a rail joint and important objects thereof areto provide a rail joint which does not require bolts and nuts to effectits attachment to the rails,

which provides a resilient rail connection permitting of the expansionand contraction of the rails, which may be quickly attached to the railsor removed therefrom, which is strong, durable and efiicient in its use,and

comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details-of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention hereinafter disclosed can be made within thescope of what is claimed Without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I

In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is aperspective view of a rail joint attached to the rail ends andconstructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Referring in detail to the drawing 1 and 2 respectively denote adjoiningrails mounted on the usual tie plate A. Each of the rails 1 and 2includes the web 3 and base 4. The web 3, of each of the rails 1 and 2,is formed with an elongated opening, respectively indicated at 5 and 6,which are disposed adjacent to the end of the rails.

A pair of associated connecting plates 7 and 8 arearranged along eachside of the adjoining rails 1 and 2. The pair of plates 7 and 8 disposedon both sides of the rails 1 and 2 are identical in construction andarrangement, with the exception that they extend in opposite directionsrelatively to each other.

The plate 7 consists of a vertically disposed portion 9 and ahorizontally disposed portion 10, and the plate 8 consists of avertically disposed portion 11 and a horizontally disposed portion 12.The inner end of the plate 7 overlaps the inner end of the associatedplate 8. The plate portions 10 and 12 conform to, overlap, and extendbeyond the base 4, of the rails 1 and 2, and

further extend beyond the outer ends of re- 515 spective verticalportions 9 and 11..

A T-bolt 13 is pivot-ally connected adjacent to the inner end of plateportion 11 and extends through an elongated slot 14 formed in thevertical plate portion 9. By shifting the T-bolt 13 so that the headthereof extends vertically as shown in the draw ing, the overlappingplate portions 9 and 11 are detachably clamped together in the lockedposition.

The outer end of the plate portion 11 is formed with a hook 15, and theouter end of the plate portion 9 is formed with ahook 16. The hook 15 ofthe plate 8 disposed on one side of the rails 1 and 2, extends into the.slot 5 and engages the-web 3 of the rail 1, whiie the hook 16 of theplate 9 disposed on the other side of the rails 1 and 2, extends intothe slot 6 and engages the web 3 of the rail 2. The hooks 16 of theplates 7 extend into respective openings 5 and 6 and overlap the hooks15, ofthe plates 8, engaged in the rail openings 5 and 6 inthe mannerabove stated. U

The portion 10 of the plate 7 is provided with a fixed apertured stud17, and the portion 12 of the plate 8 is provided with a fixed aperturedstud 18. A spiral spring 19, having its ends anchored to respectivestuds 17 i and 18, exerts a pull tending to draw the plates 7 and 8toward each other to 8d tighten the engagement of hooks 15 and 16 withthe rails 1 and 2.

The portion 10, of the plate 7, is formed with a pair of slots 20 andwith an elongated slot 21, the latter being disposed adjacent to in theinner end thereof. The portion 12 of the associated plate 8, is likewiseformed with a pair of slots 22 and with an elongated. slot 23 disposedadjacent to the inner end thereof. The slot 21 of the plate 7, registerswith the slot 23 of the associated overlapped plate 8 and are adaptedfor the reception of a common securing spike. The slots 20 and 22 arealso intended for the passage of securing spikes, which would alsoextend through suitable elongated apertures formed inthe tie plate A.

A substantially U-shaped flat spring 24 is mounted in each of the railslots 5 and 6. The spring 24 acts against the hooks 16 of the plates 7and are auxiliary to the main springs 19 in forcing the associatedplates 7 and 8 toward each other to the securing position. 7

It will here be noted that in my improved 110 rail joint. no bolts andnuts are employed, and that none of the securing spikes engage therails. By this construction the action of the springs 19 and 24, and theprovision of.

the elongated spike slots 20, 21, 22 and 23, will allow of thecontraction and expansion of the rails 1 and 2 in and with the connecting plates 7 and 8.

WhatlI claim is:

1. The combination with a pair of adjoining rails provided with openingsadjacent to the ends thereof, of a rail joint comprising a pair ofassociated connecting plates disposed at each side of said adjoiningrails, each of said pair of plates formed with a hook engaging inrespective openings of said rails, a locking bolt carried by one of eachpair of plates and engaging the other of said associated pair of platesfor securing said associated pair of plates in position, and a resilientmember connected with each of said pair of plates for forcing said pairof associated plates to the securing position.

2. The combination with a pair of adjoining rails provided with openingsadjacent to the ends thereof, of a rail joint comprising a pair ofassociated connecting plates disposed at each side of said adjoiningrails, the adjacent. ends of said pair of associated plates overlappingeach other each of said pair of plates formed with a hook engaging inrespective openings of said rails, a locking bolt shiftably attached toone of each pair of plates and engaging in a slot formed in the other ofsaid associated pair of plates for securing said associated pairs ofplates in position, and a spiral spring connected with each of saidpairs oi associated plates for forcing said pair of associated plates tothe securing position.

3. The combination with a pair of adjoining rails provided with openingsadjacent to the ends thereof, of a rail joint comprising a pair ofassociated connecting plates disposed at each side of said adjoiningrails, the adj acent; ends of said pair of associated plates overlappingeach other, each of said pair of plates formed with a hook engaging inrespective openings of said rails, a locking bolt shiftably attached toone of each pair of plates and engaging in a slot formed in the other ofsaid associated pair of plates for securing said associated pairs ofplates in position, a spiral spring connected with each of said pairs ofassociated plates for forcing said pair of associated plates to thesecuring position, said pair of plates provided with a plurality ofelongated spike apertures, and a substantially U-shaped spring mountedin each of said rail openings and engaging said hooks for maintainingthe latter in the securing position in said rail openings, substantiallyas described and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

VILLIAM T. MASTERS.

